8 May 1997 Edition

Loughgall martyrs remembered

THE TYRONE NATIONAL GRAVES ASSOCIATION is to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the deaths at Loughgall of eight IRA Volunteers and civilian Anthony Hughes during a wreath laying ceremony in Cappagh on Thursday evening 8 May.

And at a function in Galbally later that night the newly elected Sinn Fein MP for Mid-Ulster, Martin McGuinness, will address the crowd.

The wreath laying ceremony is to commence at 9.00pm. The event is part of an evening programme of remembrance jointly organised by the Tyrone National Graves Association and the Loughgall Truth and Justice Campaign.

An anniversary mass is to be celebrated in Altmore at 8.00pm, one hour before the wreath-laying ceremony at the Loughgall monument at nearby Cappagh Main Street.

The function in aid of the Loughgall Public Inquiry Appeal will be held later on Thursday night in Galbally.

Brian Cawley, chair of Tyrone National Graves Association, told An Phoblacht, ``the ambush at Loughgall made a massive impact on republican Ireland and Tyrone republicans in particular. Britain should own up to the truth that their actions were part of a campaign of war against the Irish people''.